Perseus the Hunter

Chapter 9

The campfire was bright and strong in the amphitheatre, surrounded by all of the campers and the goddess of the hearth herself. She sat on the edge of the burning embers, stoking the fire every few minutes.

"Who is he?" One Athenian camper had the confidence to break the silence.

"He is an old hero, one of legends." Hestia's voice was slow, calm almost reminiscent.

"Which one?" A choppy blonde-haired boy asked, his eyes were a deep hazel. He looked so much like his father it was scary.

"One that is well known, one of not long ago, one that most of the campers here would know if I said. However, it is not my privilege to unveil the hero for it is of his choice and his alone." She stoked the fire, sending a burst of flames up to lick the sky.

"Why is he here? And why now?" The boy's mother caught Hestia's attention. She was a single mother, an elder camper and a woman with a previous strong attachment to the hero. The feather still adorned her choppy hair. 

"He is here to protect you, he was sent here by Zeus himself, without his consent. He doesn't want to be here, nor do I want him to be. But that it how it is. As for why now? Because there is a threat on the Olympian gods and they have decided that this time they need help. They do not know his true identity, only two do and I am one of them."

"Is he a ninja?" A small toddler asked. He had light-brown hair and an elfish, mischievous smile. His father and mother sat behind him, chuckling slightly but letting him ask anyway.

"Of sorts, yes."

"Could I be a ninja too?" His eyes were lit up with so much hope and excitement that Hestia was unable to tell him no.

"Of course you can," she reached into the fire and pulled out a small wooden blade, handing it to the boy, "you just have to practice." The boy took the sword and said a big thank you, engulfing the goddess in a hug. Running to his father to show off his gift.

"Why hadn't we heard of him before?" A tall son of Apollo with blonde hair questioned. Looking to his gothic boyfriend, who nodded also wanting to know the answer. 

"He has kept to the shadows, he can manipulate the darkness and he usually dwells in the land of mortals. His control of the mist is also rather well developed. He is even able to trick gods with his gift. Even I don't know where he is half of the time." The campers started to look scared at this. He could hide from the gods themselves, who knows what else he could do. 

Hestia yawned, tired from the day. She stood from her place next to the campfire and stretched her back. "I think it's time everyone went to bed. We can talk more in the morning. I will stay in my cabin here tonight. Goodnight everyone." She stood from the fire and made her way to the horseshoe of cabins. Locating hers and closing the door behind her. 

Turning round what she saw made her almost scream. Kynigós was sat on the small sofa completely drenched in mortal blood. He held a small dagger in one hand, slowly twirling it through his fingers. He looked up with his eyes as she walked in, keeping his head bowed low. The look was scary, he looked so at peace in the dark and yet so threatening. 

'Why?'  Hestia gulped, fear crept up her spine. Even though he was her guardian and she knew he would never hurt her. He was the only one who could create this sense of absolute chaos and fear in one word. She truly felt sorry for anyone who became his enemy. 

"T...Th... They were um... They..." Fear made her lose her confidence, she felt like she was a seven year old mortal, not a powerful, millennium old goddess. She breathed to calm her nerves before trying to speak again. 

"They were planning to kill and... and..." she gulped, not able to say the word, "...the girls at Glenndale Orphanage." His eyes softened as soon as he realised what he was doing. Lifting his head up to look at her properly. He stood, evaporating the blood from his clothes as he walked closer. Engulfing her in a hug, she started crying into his shoulder, sobbing uncontrollably. Partially because of fear and the way that Kynigós had changed so much, and the other because of what they were going to do to those poor girls. 

He held her patiently until she had cried herself to sleep in his arms. He picked her up bridal style and placed her onto the double bed, covering her with the blanket. He then left the cabin, shutting the door softly behind him. Settling onto the small deckchair placed on the small porch. He let himself reboot, closing his eyes but keeping his mind active, stretching his senses once again. Doing this he realised how low on energy he really was. That potion really took it out of him, he knew he shouldn't have used it but it was the only way for him to replenish his strength quick enough. 

Hestia breaking her hand on his face almost exposed everything. He knew she had questions and there would be no avoiding them, he had to tell her what happened. He just didn't know what the goddess would do when she found out. It was time he revealed his past to his sister. He knew it was going to upset her so maybe taking her to the void would be a good idea. That way he could control the mess. Aphrodite would also want to know. He sighed. 

The morning sun broke Kynigós out of his meditative trance, opening his eyes to watch the sunlight hit the trees and break into the clearing. The campers slowly started getting ready for their day. Not noticing the dark figure sat outside the Hestia Cabin, until one small kid ran up to the cabin and stood there. He didn't say a word, waved slightly and gave him a small smile. Kynigós's eyes twinkled and he nodded his head at the boy. He knew the boy's parents, making memories danced before his eyes, he tried to blink them away. 

Kynigós produced a smarties cookie out of thin air and handed it to the boy. He smiled even bigger and gently took the cookie from his hand, running away toward his parents who stood in shock about ten feet away. Seeing them caused the memories to reappear, so he closed his eyes to hide his pain.